bastide

One of the small fortified towns deliberately constructed to a rectilinear plan during the Middle Ages, especially in the second half of the 13th century under Edward I. Bastides were sited for strategic advantage as frontier posts or to consolidate a presence in hostile territory through the introduction of English traders and settlers.

They were first constructed in France, where Monpazier in Dordogne (1284) is typical. Later they were introduced widely in Wales, for example at Rhuddlan, Conway, Caernarfon, Beaumaris, Criccieth and Harlech. Flint is probably the best surviving example, where a flat site lent itself to an ideal application of the principle.